'Jem and the Holograms' announces main cast led by Aubrey Peeples

Aubrey Peeples has been cast in the lead role of "Jem and the Holograms."

Aubrey Peeples has been cast in the lead role of "Jem and the Holograms." (Paul Archuleta / FilmMagic)

Oliver Gettell

"Nashville" actress Aubrey Peeples is taking her musical skills to the big screen as Jem, the rock-star lead of "Jem and the Holograms," a live-action adaptation of Hasbro's popular 1980s animated series.

Stefanie Scott, Aurora Perrineau and Hayley Kiyoko, who are also best known for their TV work, will play the Holograms, Jem's band. The four actresses were announced Thursday with teaser images on the movie's website.

Directed by Jon M. Chu ("Step Up 2," "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never") from a script by Ryan Landels, "Jem and the Holograms" will tell the story of an orphaned teenage girl who becomes an online recording sensation and embarks on a music-driven journey across Los Angeles to unlock a message left behind by her father.

When the project was announced last month, producers said the movie would re-imagine Jem "for a whole new generation, with themes of being true to who you are in a multitasking, hyperlinked, social-media age."

True to that spirit, producers Chu, Jason Blum ("Paranormal Activity,""Insidious") and music mogul Scooter Braun posted a YouTube video asking fans to contribute ideas, but not money, to the making of the film.

"We want to invite you into our process and help us make our next movie," Chu said in the video. "From writing music to designing costumes to even casting, whatever it is, we want you to be part of our creative team."

The filmmakers then called upon fans to post images, messages and videos online with ideas, or even their own auditions, for the movie.

Yesterday, Chu revealed on Twitter that actor and YouTuber Nathan Moore, who submitted an audition video online, had been cast as the hired goon Zipper.